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PS 3513 p J^ 

023 P3 _^_„__ 

1919 

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The Passing of 
Wilhelm 



BY 

GUS L. GOETHALS 

Author of "THE WITCHES OF BIELEFELD'' 

1919 




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The Passing of 
Wilhelm 






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POST PRINT. PITTSBURG. CAL. 



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The Passing of Wilhelm 

By GUS L. GOETHALS 
Author of "THE WITCHES OF BIELEFELD" 



Written for the Pittsburg Post 



Copyright November 12, 1919 



T 



Tho Kaiser sleeps, the Guard patrols liis beat, 
And all is ([uiet in Amerongen. 



The ex-k.'ng sits in an old arm chair 

Within the Castle of Amerongen, 
His servants had retired and left him there 

While his thoughts d^velt over lost Gottingen. 

Off from his throne, he brooded his sorrows 
Lonely and friendless in deep misery, 

Until over h:s mind sound sleep bestows 
Oblivion to censure and flattery. 

Outs-de, a guard paced 'round the Castle walls 

On duty to protect all those within 
Amerongen's historic rooms and halls, 

Thus he fulfills the orders of his (pieen. 

Si sieers the exile in his guarded room 
As the clock on the mantel strikes 'levcn, 

The fateful hour that spelt Ger-many's doom; 

A year and tvrelve hours since Huns were shriven. 

At tlie last stroke of the clock comes a shot 
AVhich awoke the sleeping fallen monarch. 

lie heard a scuffle in the garden plot: 

Raw many shadows moving in the park. 

Speechless with fear, the erstwhile overlord 
Of Prussians and grantee of a World's hate, 

Acts the part of under-dog and coward 

And lacks the nerve to choose a Nero's fate. 

The fearsome shadows were armed men, who broke 
Down the gates and strode into the Castle. 

Then breaking down his door with musket stroke 
They rushed in like wild stampeded cattle. 



With cnrses ami yells thej' no\r approach him, 
Brandishing weapons, seemed over willing, 

To shiughter all who'd dare oppose their whim, 
isor would they hesitate to slay a king. 

Thus William's thoiu'hts ran swift to follow fear. 

What he feared most was a hideous hunehbacU 
Wlio held a weapon that he wielded near 

His head, on which he yearned to make attack. 

A weapon made of two swords, curved and shai'i>, 
Fastened near the hilts, like huge scissors. 

With that he could cut oft", at one carp, 
An arm or a head from hated kaisers. 

Now speaks the captain, in voice low and tense, 

"We have invaded Wilhelmina's land 
To take and bring you into court, in France, 

Dead or alive, is the Allies* demand.'' 

"The Allied Court, has decreed you guilty, 

On twelve counts — mark well 'tis death for each clKitge. 
But the Judges disagree, most hotly, 

How your debt to the law, you will discharge." 

"So come, 'tis left for you the choice to make 

As to the manner of your taking oft' 
Pray God, we came 'fore they who did forsake. 

Your I'oyal cousin 'Nicky' IJomanov.'' 

Comes one who snaps the bracelets of the law 

Ton the Donor of the German Medals. 
So he, who proudly posed as Attila, 

iMust now plead before the court in shackles. 

Now is heard the deeutoned sound of a horn. 

AU prepare to leave, for 'twas the signal. 
Away, the shackled poltroon is now borne 

From Amerongen's ancient Castle hall. 



(.17 



Ready — Forv/ard'', he hears the sharp comi;.and, 
And all now turn about and speed away, 
Down through King Albert's devastated land. 

Then hears the order plain: "Stop at Roubaix.' 

Still dumb the former emperor wondered 
At the oppressive silence that prevailed. 

But when a bell the midnight hour tolled 

lie realized how swiftly they had traveled. 

The cause of their stopping there, at Roub.MX, 
Was for the viseing and signing their pass. 

Then off for Versailles, ])y way of Cambrai, 

Southward they sped for the Palace of Class, 



•'\YILLIAM IIOnENZOLLP]RN, by the report, 

Filed here with our chief clerk, this day, we learn, 

That you have been apprised why this court, 
Ordered your arrest at Amerongen.'' 

'Your trial day has passed, and all appeals 

Are clearly estopped by limitations. 
On twelve counts, we found true and legal Bills, 

The Plaintiffs proving their allegations." 

"As the Complaints and xVffidavits are, 

Too numerous and copious to review. 
To the convicted P'elon at the Bar, 

William Holienzollern, we state to 3'ou.'' 

"That we agreed, to show upon a Screen, 

Twelve Reels of Moving Pictures, to depict. 
The dire results of malice and your spleen; 

Behold your crimes, with title brief to-wit:'' 

BELGIUM'S INVASION or SCRAP OF PAPEli. 

TORPEDOING OF A HOSPITAL SHIP. 
DEPORTATIONS or THE BRUTAL SLAVE DRIVER. 

PRISONERS OF WAR or SLASHED BY THE WHIP. 

SINKING OF THE STEAMER LUSITANIA. 

MURDER OF A NURSE or EDITH CAVELL. 
FIENDISH ZEPPELIN RAIDS IN BRITTANIA. 

POISONED GAS or THE COUNTERPART OF HELL. 

THE BOMBING OF COTTAGES IN BRITAIN. 

HUNS AT WORK or U-BOATS, SNAKES OF THE SEAS. 
WANTON DESTRl^CTION OF RHEIMS AND LOUVAIN. 

THE LONG DISTANCE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. 

The cullion saw each infernal image 

Dared not repeat, "Ich habe das nicht gewollt." 

For, HE HAD WILLED IT, with such hellish rage. 
That the whole world rose 'gainst him in revolt. 

Appalled and overwhelmed by abject fear 

He faintly hears the Judge's stern command, 

"The Sheiiff will take the prisoner near, 

The instruments of death, to choose his end." 

Quickly the Sheriff leads him to the test. 

He who loved the bright and shining armor. 
Must select the way to his final rest 

For yielding to Teutons war-mad clamor. 

Still speechless and dazed, in charge and care 

Of a minion of the law, — firmly held — 
Who soon dragged him to the very place, where 

Laid a Roman sword, there the Sheriff said, 



"This is the sword that Nero used, to foil, 
The lloman people and their senators. 

As Saul, with his life's blood he stained the soil, 
Too proud to surrender to the Lietors." 

"Hero, like Bassan o. clioose and end it all, 
For this is leaded at the hilt and guard. 

Be resolute and take your final fall, 

The while, commend your soul unto the Lord. 

But William dared not choose to die, as did, 
A Ceasar or KinL^ Saul, he shrank away 

From what he otien proudly used to lead 

And to coniniand his troops to loot and slay. 

Oil ! sudden came the change, for now he kneeled 
Before the Guillotine, whereon a king 

A. son of Saint Louis, was cruelly killed, 
WIkK' madmen exulted at the killing. 

Tie saw the angled weighted blade at rest, 

Fascinated and bereft of reason 
Tie drew closer, nearer and nearer yet. 

And cringing gave sign that he had chosen. 

When he arose, he saw the bloody blade. 

Slowly ascend which to his view disclosed 

The headless trunk of a renegade 

AN'hose gory head towards the ex-king rolled. 

Sees neath the plank, two Zulus black as coal 
Catch each man's head, whether alive or dead. 

And they took turn about, to i)itch and bowl, 
As if they played at loggats with each head. 

Surfeit with horror, he attempts escape, 

But here a burly masked man bars (he Avay, 

With a Headsman's ax of curious shape. 
And well sharpened to execute or slay. 

For that giant swung his heavy weapon 

With swordsmans' skill and ease around his head 

Xcarby he saw the Headsman's block whereon 
The headstrong Charles Stuart was beheaded. 

Aga'n he sees that deformed wretch appear, 

Waddling and a gibbering like an Ape. 
Now feeling, knowing that his end is near, 
Meekly abandons all hopes of escape. 

As if detenu'ned to break (be fearful spell, 
Or as if jarred by an electric shock, 

FTe threw his shacWed hands high up and fell. 
Face down, with head upon the bloody block. 



Whilo falling, he uttered a piercing' ery, 

A loud despairing ery of ''Help!" And then 

He heard many steps in the hall nearhy, 
And sensed that he was in Amerongen. 

With "His Highness" here and "Your Highness" there, 
l>y directions of Her JMa.jesty's j\Iaid 

They soon carried him to liis bed with care, 
And while awaiting the Doctor, they prayed. 

As they prayed for the weal of their Highness, 
The Doctor arrived and eased him of his pain. 

Then to the Maid, he said with some sterness, 
"Your part, in all this you'll have to explain." 

This she said, ''I left Her Highness asleep, 

Entered my room as the clock struck 'leven. 

When a shutter did from its fastening slip 

Swung closed with loud report as from a gun." 

'Startled yet minded to pre\ent such noise 

Walked out and as 1 reached the hall 
1 heard the cry of — Help! — the Kaisers voice. 

Then all functions quickened to attend his call." 

"Upon the floor I found his Majesty, 

His head face down upon the Prie-dien lay. 

His wrists locked together most securely, 
Which to untangle I cut his cuffs away." 

Then the Doctor said, 'Ton may all retire, 
I, find nothing serious nor alarming. 

His Majesty sleeps and will not require 
Further care, so adieu until morning," 



While dreams confound the Kaiser with his guilt, 
We'll sing L'envoi again in same refrain, 

The Kaiser sleejis, the Guard patrols his beat 
And, all is quiet in Amerongen. 

GUS L. GOETHALS, 

Clayton, California, Nov. 12th, 1919. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



